LeAnn Rimes Stuns With Emotional Patsy Cline Tribute At 2013 ACAs

LeAnn’s eyes swelled with chilling tears as she paid tribute to one of her and country music’s most immense idols, Patsy Cline, at the ACAs on the 50th anniversary of Patsy’s death.

Wow. Just wow. LeAnn Rimes blew the audience away at Dec. 10’s 4th annual American Country Awards with her inspired medley of Patsy Cline songs dedicated to the late and great vocal artist and country’s original goddess, who is inarguably one of the most influential and well-respected performers of our time.

LeAnn, 31, showed us her pipes and her class, as she belted out some of Patsy’s greatest hits including “Leavin’ on Your Mind,” “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Crazy For Loving You” and the heartfelt ballad “Sweet Dreams Of You” with emotion and gusto.

In a classic, old-school, long beaded gown, with her hair pulled back and with lighting that made everything appear black and white, LeAnn performed to a backdrop of alternating black and white photos of Patsy, all making for a very vintage look, while simultaneously tearing at our heartstrings.

This Was A Very Special Performance for LeAnn Rimes

As was clear in her facial expressions, teary eyes and powerful renditions of Patsy classics, that this performance meant a lot to LeAnn, who has been compared to the late Patsy since her earliest days as a singer. “I’ve just been compared to this woman, to Patsy Cline, for so many years since I was a baby,” she opened up to Fox 411 Country. “To be asked to do something like this on the 50th anniversary of her death, it means a lot, ya know. I mean, I have a definite connection there that’s like no other.”

So touching!

Patsy, best known as a country music industry pioneer and for her haunting vocal sound, passed away at the tender age of 30 on March 5, 1963 in a tragic private plane crash. 2013 therefore marks the 50th anniversary of her death, hence the special remembrance of her at the awards show.

And as for LeAnn’s reaction when she was asked to do this unique tribute: “I might have shed a tear in my room,” LeAnn revealed to Fox 411.

Well, Ms. Rimes — we shed tears after your performance! Thank you for that glowing tribute to a country star we lost far too soon.